By Jen Kirsch

September 10, 2018

It was an aptly Spanish-themed premiere party for power
couple
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem’s latest, Everybody Knows. Arriving at the RBC
House five minutes apart, each star made what could collectively go down as the
smoothest, most unsolicited entrance at any TIFF party that I ever did see. After
Javier’s arrival at the
invite-only affair, an observing few wondered if perhaps the
Pirates of the Caribbean star had
bailed, much like another of the evening’s A-listers (more to come on that!). But
in slipped the Oscar winner, having traded her layers of Spanish-style
Chanel lace for a slinkier black number, topped off with dazzling
drop earrings.

The room of execs and castmates at STORYS in the entertainment
district seemed unfazed and no photos were flashed as
Penelope posted up on the cozy couch in their corner booth noshing
on food and
Javier got comfy in
convo with director
Asghar Farhadi.
A live, three-piece Spanish band and its instrumental rendition of, what else, “Despacito,”
brought the film’s locale to life, and even Penelope’s shoulders were bopping
when they took on Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.”

Susan Sarandonand Ben Stiller had the room in stitches during the 10th annual Artists for Peace and Justice gala at the Windsor Arms hotel, not only in
the tradition of stars serving guests their suppers (Alan Cumming was
also on the wait staff!) but at the podium, too. Ben made light of his height as
the Hollywood pair honoured another dynamic duo with the Peace and Justice
Award: towering Property Brothers
Drew and Jonathan Scott. “What can’t they do?” exclaimed the Thelma & Louise star,
before
Ben quipped “jockey.” All jokes aside, a whopping $1.4 million was raised at the event, co-chaired by Natasha Koifman and Suzanne Boyd and benefitting education in Haiti. "We were raised with some very simple values," the twins said while accepting their award. "We call it the 'cowboy code.' We respect the land around us, we respect the animals on the farm and we respect our humans and neighbours, whether locally or globally."

At the Vanity Fair
fete on the KOST rooftop at Bisha Hotel,
Chloe
Grace Moretz
hopped into the David Yurman portrait studio with Geena Davis, fresh off her stint
rallying the audience at the Share Her Journey event yesterday afternoon. As that
party was winding down, a few blocks away, Grey Goose hosted the premiere 'do for
Jason Reitman’sThe Front Runner,
starring a frontrunner in his own right,
Hugh Jackman. The actor appeared aptly at the stroke of 9pm, in what could be
the most punctual appearance made by a lead at a TIFF party yet. He
chatted with a few people involved in the film and took a few photos with fans before
sneaking out the back door 40 minutes later.

Suits star Patrick J Adams was spotted taking in
the scene while leaning against the bar sans his pregnant wife,
Troian Bellisario. For those cast
members seeking a pick-me-up of sorts while the fete was still in full swing, The
Sequel – a cocktail that is best described as an espresso martini - was
ordered, savoured and favoured. Urban legend has it that the drink is inspired
by an OG supermodel in the 80’s who – at a London bar - asked for something
that would “Wake me up and [mess] me up.”

Across the way, the Nespresso-hosted
Ben is Back cast party was in full
swing, though word on the street is that star
Julia Roberts had to fly back home and was a no-show despite her
confirmed attendance. Though invited guests were hoping to soak up her
contagious energy, co-stars
Kathryn
Newton
and Courtney B. Vance were
on hand to toast their tense drama, for which solid reviews are already rolling
in.

As that party wrapped another was in full swing over
at Mongrel House, once again posted up in the historic Campbell House building, where Maggie Gyllenhaal had been spotted looking pretty in pink in the secret garden.
I caught sight of
Billy Zane on yet another grand staircase, leading him not
to Rose DeWitt Bukater (Titanic,
anyone?) but instead to a room where a live karaoke band was playing.
Billy,
who has made quite the consistent cameo at parties over the past few days in
Toronto, was dressed for the city’s cold spell in full fall gear – cap, scarf
and blazer.

Newly minted movie star
Lady Gaga made a glittering appearance at the Entertainment Weekly
bash with boyfriend Christian Carino
in tow while the annual InStyle and HFPAparty
settled into its new venue at the swish Four Seasons hotel, and the buzz about
town is that most of the big stars were seen strutting into soirees, snapping
photos and then moving on to whatever was the next to-do on their agenda.